Vote for us, maybe?

Morning Update: Tuesday, April 12

Goooood morning, Madison!

It's Tuesday. Have you voted for your favorite establishments in Best of Madison yet?

Thanks to all of you, we've been nominated for best local news website, which is pretty exciting.

If you're new to voting, it's pretty simple and straightforward. I recommend going through the process on a computer, rather than by phone. Voting is open through the end of the month and unlike the first round, you'll only be able to cast your vote once per category, so choose wisely. (Wink, wink.)

— Hayley

Correction: Monday's email stated a new solar project in Dane County will create enough energy to power 600,000 homes. This is incorrect. The project will create enough energy to power 60,000 homes. The post has been updated and we regret the error.

🐦 Bird flu continues to spread.

The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced over the weekend poultry flocks in Barron and Racine counties have been infected with the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (aka bird flu).
The state Department of Natural Resources has found the strain of bird flu in samples collected from wild birds in Dane, Columbia, Grant, Milwaukee, and Polk counties, WPR reports.
DATCP recommends poultry owners take precautions and take birds indoors when possible.
It's important to note that it is incredibly rare for avian influenza viruses to infect people.

♻️ You'll likely pay more for recycling services soon.

The city's Finance Committee voted 4-1 Monday night in favor of legislation that will create a fee for all properties that receive city curbside recycling services.
The “resource recovery special charge” would apply to all curbside recycling customers and "allow the city to recover all or most of the costs of providing recycling services for residents," the State Journal reports.
Annually, households can expect to pay about $50 in fees. The City Council still needs to vote on the measure before anything becomes official.

🐶 Happy Take Me Home Tuesday! Meet Jax.

From DCHS: Jax is a 1-year-old Siberian Husky mix who was transferred to DCHS from an overcrowded shelter in Oklahoma. Jax is a friendly pup who had one of his hind legs amputated. But that won't slow him down from playing, going on adventures, and getting snuggles. Jax looking for a family who will help him maintain a healthy weight, which will reduce the strain on his other limbs. He's a vocal pup who's still learning to share his favorite items with others.
Think Jax would make a great addition to your family? Learn more about him here.

⛳ Get ready to tee off, the city's golf courses are officially open.

The Monona Golf Course, Odana Hills Golf Course, and Yahara Hills Golf Course will all be open and playable starting today, while Glenway Golf Park continues to be closed for remodeling, Channel 3000 reports.
You can book a tee time here.

🌎 Will you accept the Earth Day Challenge?

Madison parks is seeking more than 850 volunteers to assist with trash pickup, raking, weeding, removing sticks, and more at 50+ Madison parks this Earth Day.
All ages are welcome to participate and registration is required. Get the details and sign up here.

🥬 A marijuana legalization hearing on 4/20? Nice.

Republicans in the legislature announced they plan to hold a public hearing for a bill to legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin. This doesn't really mean much, however, because the legislature has adjourned and won’t be back in session until 2023.
- The hearing is scheduled for April 20, a coincidence with a significance the bill's sponsor, Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk, was unaware of. (If you have to ask, here's the explainer.)
This past legislative session saw proposed bills from both sides of the aisle that called for varying degrees of legalization. All of that legislation died when the Republican-controlled legislature adjourned in February, AP reports.
Democratic Sen. Melissa Agard, who has been a vocal proponent of full marijuana legalization, called the hearing “a cynical political ploy that gives people false hope about the prospects of this legislation.”

“Whether you think the bill goes too far, or not far enough, what’s important is that we all come together to have an open, honest and respectful discussion about moving this idea forward." — Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk

🏘️ Your lunchtime read: What the fate of Zoe Bayliss Cooperative means for affordable student housing.

From Tone Madison: "Zoe Bayliss residents pay roughly $5,000 to live in the cooperative from August to May, or about $500 a month. This investment doesn't just cover housing—the cooperative provides an onsite chef, a fully stocked fridge and pantry with food staples, and the ability to participate in a democratically run housing facility. Its governing structure includes a president, five officer positions, and an executive board comprised of former and current residents. It's increasingly hard to find that kind of deal in Madison, whether within UW-Madison's housing system or in the city's rapidly gentrifying private rental market."